High wind warning in effect Tuesday

High winds expected to rip through the area Tuesday have the potential to cause structural damage and downed trees and power lines in the Victor Valley, according to forecasters.

The National Weather Service in San Diego issued a high wind warning for much of Southern California from 6 a.m. Tuesday to 3 a.m. Wednesday. Motorists are urged to exercise particular caution through areas like the Cajon Pass, where isolated gusts could reach up to 85 mph and blowing dust could drop visibility to near zero.

The strongest winds look to head through the High Desert between 2 and 6 p.m., according to Mike Pigott, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.com. He doesn't predict much precipitation.

"It's going to be an extremely windy day as a very potent cold front drives through the region," Pigott said. "You're talking wind gusts sustaining 20 to 40 mph, with wind gusts up to 60 across the upper desert. I do think it's going to be a rather large problem for high-profile vehicles. You're also going to have to worry about sudden decreases in visibility due to blowing dust and sand."

Generally sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or higher can lead to property damage, according to the NWS.

Temperatures, which hovered around 70 degrees Monday, were expected to reach highs in the 60s today and then drop down to the 50s Wednesday.

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